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AGU: Journal of Geophysical Research, Space Physics

 

Index Terms

  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Thermosphere—composition and chemistry
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Thermosphere—energy deposition
  • Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Airglow and aurora
  • Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Atmospheres—composition and chemistry
Abstract
Cited By (0)
 

Abstract

Nitric oxide production in collisions of hot O(3P) atoms with N2

N. Balakrishnan

Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

A. Dalgarno

Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Energetic oxygen atoms play a central role in the heat and energy balance of the terrestrial thermosphere. The reaction between hot O(3P) atoms and N2 has been suggested as a source of shuttle glow in low-Earth orbits due to the formation of nitric oxide. We report cross sections and rate coefficients for the production of nitric oxide in the reaction between hot O(3P) atoms and N2 and show that vibrational excitation of N2 significantly enhances the reaction rate coefficients. Results are found to be in agreement with shock-tube experiments as well as with crossed molecular beam data.

Published 7 February 2003.

Citation: Balakrishnan, N., and A. Dalgarno (2003), Nitric oxide production in collisions of hot O(3P) atoms with N2, J. Geophys. Res., 108(A2), 1065, doi:10.1029/2002JA009566.

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